Following the success of last year’s event, CECOP organised the second edition of our study visit. “What is CECOP’s role in the EU?” in November 2025. These events are part of our continuous effort to reduce the gap between Brussels and the regional and cooperative level and foster connections and collaboration within our network.

The event centred around three objectives: better understand CECOP’s advocacy work in the EU; gain insights into the functioning of the European institutions; and meet representatives from cooperative organisations and cooperative leaders from other countries. This year we welcomed a delegation of CECOP members and cooperators from Italy, Malta and Turkey.

This year’s programme kicked off with a visit to CoHop, the first cooperative microbrewery in Brussels, where we toured the brewery and tasted some of the eco-responsible craft beers brewed there.

On the second day of our event, our participants had the opportunity to learn more about CECOP’s advocacy work, partnerships, and work with the EU institutions during our sessions at the premises of Smart Belgium, with contributions from Cooperatives Europe, Social Economy Europe, the International Cooperative Alliance, and CICOPA.

We closed our event with a visit to the European Parliament Hemicycle, the house of European democracy, where our participants could brush up on their knowledge of EU decision-making. During the visit, we met with MEP Brando Benifei (S&D, Italy), a member of the Intergroup on the Social Economy and Services of General Interest. The participants had the opportunity to share the priorities and challenges their cooperatives face.

Stay tuned for the 2026 edition of our study visits!

 

This event has been funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however, those of  
the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. 
Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.